Outlander is not idealism, which is in part why it is so good

A big part of what makes Outlander such an immense hit all over the world is that it offers up this sense of escapism. You get swept away to a different place and a different time, one in which actions are perceived as more black-and-white and much of modern technology is stripped away. In its place remains human emotion, something that so many of us have become hesitant to express over the years. Characters have to communicate to reach their end goals; they have to confess to their true feelings because they cannot do so via or a text or via an instant flower-delivery.

Outlander is a passionate show, but there is a different between a passionate show and an idealistic show. From afar, it can be easy to consider Outlander a perfect romance given that you have such wonderful characters at the core of it in Jamie and Claire. You can get caught up in the love story, the breathtaking visuals, and the beautiful music — it can be easy to look at the couple and interpret their relationship as perfection.

Yet, Jamie is not a perfect man. Claire is not a perfect woman. This is not a perfect romance. It is perfect for us as viewers mostly because of its imperfections. These are two characters who survive and persevere despite many physical and emotional wounds, with some of the being self-inflicted. Take, for example, Jamie not coming clean about Laoghaire until he and Claire arrived in Lallybroch; or, consider Claire’s stubbornness and insistence on helping others at times making life harder for Jamie. These characters stand firm to their beliefs and to their convictions, even when it makes life more difficult on each other. They shout, they say at times hurtful things, and they are not always honest with themselves or others.

In the end, aren’t these qualities that all of us have?

We first started to think about this subject earlier today because of seeing a recent exchange on Twitter involving Starz and Outlander star Caitriona Balfe:

Now, we don’t fault Starz for the sentiment that they are creating. They are a network that markets the show extremely well, though at times they do fall into tweeting the sort of things that seem inherently designed for appealing to the largest possible mainstream audience. It can be easy to read their message each and either chuckle at the dog line or swoon over Jamie. That was their goal.

Yet, there are a couple of easy holes to poke through their statement, one of which Balfe echoes. Any person in life can compare to Jamie — the difference is that the expression of love is often different in 2017 than in a story told largely in the 18th century. Beyond just that, as established Jamie is a flawed character who does make mistakes. He does love Claire passionately, but such a love can also be found elsewhere in the world. Many of us are not caught in the epic struggle of Jamie and Claire, so the little things in life can be equally valuable.

Beyond all of this, shouldn’t there be a point made in that Claire sacrificed her whole life in Boston in order to go back and time to find Jamie, not knowing whether or not he would still love her? Like we said, it’s clear that Starz is appealing to a base with their tweet, but there’s probably not enough said about precisely what Claire put herself through in the events of “Freedom & Whisky” / “A. Malcolm” in season 3. The sacrifice that both characters have put themselves through for the sake of the other is immense.

Outlander is not idealism

If it were, it wouldn’t be successful. Its popularity can be generated in part through its striking relatability. We’ve all witnessed problems within every relationships, and few have the push-and-pull that Jamie and Claire do. The reason that this one stands out, and is so successful, is because there are two incredible characters at the center of their relationship and while they may fight, the passion for themselves, and also each other, holds firm. That sentiment is the ideal at the core of Outlander and it is perfectly attainable within the real world. Without it, there would be no touchstone on which the series could exist. Jamie and Claire would be unreachable as characters.

We can all find someone who loves us like Jamie loves Claire or like Claire loves Jamie. It all comes down to expression and knowing the truth amidst the inevitable conflict.

Related – Be sure to see the latest piece about season 4 and Sophie Skelton’s Brianna

As always, we welcome your thoughts on this story below. Meanwhile, be sure to like CarterMatt on Facebook to secure more updates on Outlander or to discuss the series further with other viewers. (Photo: Starz.)